Hole saw

Abstract

A hole saw includes a substantially cylindrical body defining a cutting end and an axis of rotation. The hole saw also includes first and second apertures formed through the body and spaced from the cutting end such that a portion of the body extends between the cutting end and both the first and second apertures. The first and second apertures are both configured to receive a tool for removing work piece plugs from within the cylindrical body. The first aperture is axially spaced from the cutting end a first distance. The second aperture is axially spaced from the cutting end a second distance that is greater than the first distance. The first aperture and the second aperture are separated by a portion of the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hole saw, comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical body having a cutting end, a cap end, and an outer wall extending from the cap end to the cutting end, the cutting end including a cutting edge having a plurality of cutting teeth, the cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis extending from the cap end to the cutting end; and 
 a plurality of distinct apertures formed along the outer wall of the cylindrical body; 
 wherein each distinct aperture is configured to receive a tool for removing one or more plugs from within the cylindrical body; 
 wherein the plurality of distinct apertures include a first aperture and a second aperture, the first aperture having a geometric characteristic distinct from that of the second aperture, and each of the first and second apertures is separated from the cap end by at least a portion of the outer wall; and 
 wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture defines a minimum width to allow insertion of the tool therethrough; 
 wherein the first aperture further comprises at least a first substantially straight edge that is substantially parallel to the cutting end, and a second substantially straight edge that opposes the first substantially straight edge and is substantially parallel to the cutting end. 
 
     
     
       2. The hole saw of  claim 1 , wherein all of the second aperture is closer to the cap end than all of the first aperture. 
     
     
       3. The hole saw of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the first aperture having a first distance that is closer to the cap end than any remaining portions of the first aperture, a second portion of the second aperture having a second distance that is closer to the cap end than any remaining portions of the second aperture, the first distance being different from the second distance. 
     
     
       4. The hole saw of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first aperture and at least a portion of the second aperture are aligned along a first aperture axis that forms a first acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       5. The hole saw of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first aperture and at least a portion of the second aperture are substantially aligned along a line that is substantially in parallel with the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       6. The hole saw of  claim 1 , wherein the geometric characteristic of the second aperture includes at least one of a shape and a size of the second aperture. 
     
     
       7. The hole saw of  claim 1 , the plurality of distinct apertures including a first plurality of distinct apertures, further comprising:
 a second plurality of distinct apertures formed along the outer wall of the cylindrical body, each of the second plurality of distinct apertures being identical to a respective one of the first plurality of distinct apertures; 
 wherein all of the second plurality of distinct apertures are arranged on a same side of at least one second plane that contains the longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
       8. The hole saw of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first aperture and the second aperture is bounded by a first edge, a second edge that is substantially parallel to the first edge, and a side edge connecting the first edge to the second edge and oriented at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
       9. A hole saw, comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical body having a cutting end, a cap end, and an outer wall extending from the cap end to the cutting end, the cutting end including a cutting edge having a plurality of cutting teeth, the cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis extending from the cap end to the cutting end; and 
 a plurality of distinct apertures formed along the outer wall of the cylindrical body; 
 wherein each distinct aperture is configured to receive a tool for removing one or more plugs from within the cylindrical body; 
 wherein the plurality of distinct apertures include a first aperture and a second aperture, the first aperture having a geometric characteristic distinct from that of the second aperture, and each of the first and second apertures is separated from the cap end by at least a portion of the outer wall; and 
 wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture defines a minimum width to allow insertion of the tool therethrough; 
 wherein the first aperture includes a first side edge, and the second aperture includes a second side edge aligned along an extension of the first side edge. 
 
     
     
       10. The hole saw of  claim 9 , wherein all of the second aperture is closer to the cap end than all of the first aperture. 
     
     
       11. The hole saw of  claim 9 , wherein a first portion of the first aperture has a first distance that is closer to the cap end than any remaining portions of the first aperture, and a second portion of the second aperture has a second distance that is closer to the cap end than any remaining portions of the second aperture, the first distance being different from the second distance. 
     
     
       12. The hole saw of  claim 9 , wherein the geometric characteristic of the second aperture includes at least one of a shape and a size of the second aperture. 
     
     
       13. The hole saw of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of distinct apertures include a first plurality of distinct apertures, and the hold saw further comprises:
 a second plurality of distinct apertures formed along the outer wall of the cylindrical body, each of the second plurality of distinct apertures being identical to a respective one of the first plurality of distinct apertures; 
 wherein all of the second plurality of distinct apertures are arranged on a same side of at least one second plane that contains the longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
       14. A hole saw, comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical body having a cutting end, a cap end, and an outer wall extending from the cap end to the cutting end. the cutting end including a cutting edge having a plurality of cutting teeth, the cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis extending from the cap end to the cutting end; and 
 a plurality of distinct apertures formed along the outer wall of the cylindrical body: 
 wherein each distinct aperture is configured to receive a tool for removing one or more plugs from within the cylindrical body; 
 wherein the plurality of distinct apertures include a first aperture and a second aperture, the first aperture having a geometric characteristic distinct from that of the second aperture, and each of the first and second apertures is separated from the cap end by at least a portion of the outer wall; and 
 wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture defines a minimum width to allow insertion of the tool therethrough; 
 wherein the plurality of cutting teeth are coated with an abrasive coating, and each tooth of the plurality of cutting teeth is defined by a leading edge and a trailing edge; 
 wherein the cutting teeth are disposed continuously around a circumference of the cutting end; and 
 wherein each of the first and second apertures includes a plurality of edges, and each edge is curved, curvilinear, rectilinear, or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       15. The hole saw of  claim 14 , wherein all of the second aperture is closer to the cap end than all of the first aperture. 
     
     
       16. The hole saw of  claim 14 , wherein a first portion of the first aperture having a first distance that is closer to the cap end than any remaining portions of the first aperture, a second portion of the second aperture having a second distance that is closer to the cap end than any remaining portions of the second aperture, the first distance being different from the second distance. 
     
     
       17. The hole saw of  claim 14 , wherein the geometric characteristic of the second aperture includes at least one of a shape and a size of the second aperture. 
     
     
       18. The hole saw of  claim 14 , the plurality of distinct apertures including a first plurality of distinct apertures, further comprising:
 a second plurality of distinct apertures formed along the outer wall of the cylindrical body, each of the second plurality of distinct apertures being identical to a respective one of the first plurality of distinct apertures; 
 wherein all of the second plurality of distinct apertures are arranged on a same side of at least one second plane that contains the longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
       19. A hole saw, comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical body having a cutting end, a cap end, and an outer wall extending from the cap end to the cutting end, the cutting end including a cutting edge having a plurality of cutting teeth, the cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis extending from the cap end to the cutting end; and 
 a plurality of distinct apertures formed along the outer wall of the cylindrical body; 
 wherein each distinct aperture is configured to receive a tool for removing one or more plugs from within the cylindrical body; 
 wherein the plurality of distinct apertures include a first aperture and a second aperture, the first aperture having a geometric characteristic distinct from that of the second aperture, and each of the first and second apertures is separated from the cap end by at least a portion of the outer wall; and 
 wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture defines a minimum width to allow insertion of the tool therethrough; 
 wherein each of the first and second apertures includes a plurality of rounded corners. 
 
     
     
       20. The hole saw of  claim 19 , wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are separated by a first portion of the cylindrical body, and each of the first and second apertures is separated from the cap end by a respective second portion of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
       21. The hole saw of  claim 19 , wherein each of the first and second apertures is elongated, the first aperture and the second aperture are arranged on a same side of at least one plane that contains the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       22. The hole saw of  claim 19 , wherein a slot width of each of the first and second apertures, measured in a direction parallel to the cap end, is between 0.305 inches and 0.805 inches. 
     
     
       23. The hole saw of  claim 22 , wherein the slot width of each of the first and second apertures is between 0.430 inches and 0.680 inches. 
     
     
       24. The hole saw of  claim 19 , wherein the hole saw does not include any aperture other than the plurality of distinct apertures, and a total area of the plurality of distinct apertures is less than 50% of a total surface area of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
       25. The hole saw of  claim 19 , wherein all of the second aperture is closer to the cap end than all of the first aperture. 
     
     
       26. The hole saw of  claim 19 , wherein a first portion of the first aperture having a first distance that is closer to the cap end than any remaining portions of the first aperture, a second portion of the second aperture having a second distance that is closer to the cap end than any remaining portions of the second aperture, the first distance being different from the second distance. 
     
     
       27. The hole saw of  claim 19 , wherein the geometric characteristic of the second aperture includes at least one of a shape and a size of the second aperture. 
     
     
       28. The hole saw of  claim 19 , wherein each tooth of the plurality of cutting teeth is defined by a leading edge and a trailing edge, and the cutting teeth are disposed continuously around a circumference of the cutting end, and wherein each of the first and second apertures includes a plurality of edges, and each edge is curvilinear, rectilinear, or a combination thereof.